Large vein allografts are suitable for middle hepatic vein (MHV) reconstruction, but their supply is often limited. Although polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are unlimitedly available, their long-term patency is relatively poor. We intended to enhance the clinical usability of PTFE grafts for MHV reconstruction during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Two sequential studies were performed. First, PTFE grafts were implanted as inferior vena cava replacements into dogs. Second, in a 1-year prospective clinical trial of 262 adults undergoing LDLT with a modified right lobe, MHV reconstruction with PTFE grafts was compared with other types of reconstruction, and the outcomes were evaluated. In the animal study, PTFE grafts induced strong inflammatory reactions and luminal thrombus formation, but the endothelial lining was well developed. In the clinical study, the reconstruction techniques were revised to make a composite PTFE graft with an artery patch on the basis of the results of the animal study. MHVs were reconstructed with cryopreserved iliac veins (n ¼ 122), iliac arteries (n ¼ 43), aortas (n ¼ 13), and PTFE (n ¼ 84), and these reconstructions yielded 6-month patency rates of 75.3%, 35.2%, 92.3%, and 76.6%, respectively. The overall 6-month patency rates for the iliac vein and PTFE grafts were similar (P ¼ 0.92), but the 6-month patency rates with vein segment 5 were 51.0% and 34.7%, respectively (P ¼ 0.001). The overall graft and patient survival rates did not differ among these 4 groups. In conclusion, ringed PTFE grafts combined with small vessel patches showed high patency rates comparable to those of iliac vein grafts; thus, they can be used for MHV reconstruction when other sizable vessel allografts are not available. Liver Transpl 18:955-965, 2012. V C 2012 AASLD.Received December 6, 2011; accepted March 19, 2012.Middle hepatic vein (MHV) reconstruction with an interposition vessel graft has been established as a standard procedure for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with a right lobe graft when the donor's MHV trunk is preserved in the donor's remnant liver.Materials used to date for this type of venous vascular reconstruction have included various types of homologous and autologous vessel grafts. [1][2][3][4][5] The recent increase in the number of adult LDLT procedures and the relatively limited number of vessel allografts have Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; GRWR, graft-to-recipient weight ratio; IVC, inferior vena cava; LDLT, living donor liver transplantation; MELD, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease; MHV, middle hepatic vein; PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene; V5, hepatic vein branch segment 5; V8, hepatic vein branch segment 8.
